Plaiting machine



Aug. 9, 1932. a. EZBELENT ET AL PLAITING MACHINE Filed ,July 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 9, 1932.

G. EZBELENT ET AL PLAITING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gal -t MVENU Es Aug. 9, 1932. s. EZBELENT ET AL PLAITING MACHINE alvn-t INYQNTMQ 97% w Aug. 9, "1932. a. EZQBELENT ET AL PLAITING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 9,- 1932 cnrrso STATES PATENT oFFIcs GEORGES EZBELENT AND ROGER EZBELENT, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNORS TO EZBELENT FILS, A FRENCH COMPANY PLAITING MACHINE Application filed July 25, 1929, Serial No. 381,024, and in France May 8, 1929.

The present invention relates to improve- Plaiting machines are 1n use in which the '1, knife-carriers or the drums are operated by a movable link which is pivoted to the knifecarrier or to a lever adapted to rotate the said drums, and whose pivot axle, whose position is adjustable, is mounted on an arm driven by a cam or by an eccentric. But in the known machines of this type, the adjustment of the position of said pivot .axle of said movable link can only be effected at the end of the front or back stroke of the knives.

According to the present invention, the pivot axle of the said link is given by means of a cam or eccentric and during a complete stroke of the knives a reciprocating motion of variable amplitude along the said pivoting link. Theamplitude of said motion can be regulated according to the invention by means of an abutment which is mounted on the arm carrying the pivot axle and which engages a cam whose position is adjustable.

The same cam may serve todrive the pivoted link controlling the knives and the pivot-ed "link rotating the drums.

Due to said arrangement, the changeof the stroke of the knives is not effected during a relatively short time-at the end of the back stroke of the knives but can be effected during the major part of the entire stroke of the knives. It is further observed that by the use of said device each plait which is formed may comprise a covered part-equal or proportional to :the width of the plait, whatever he the changes in the width of the successive plaits.

It isnot absolutely necessary however that the device operating the drums should be identical with the device operating the knives, in order to obtainanequal or a proportional overlapping. A pivoting lever may according 'to the invention .be provided whose length depends upon the amount of motion of the knife-carrier=during the front stroke of the knives, which lever subsequentlyrefiects the intermittent rotation of the drums during the back stroke of the 'knives.

chine according to the invention along the line IV-IV of Figure 6.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the said machine along the line V-V of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a partial plan view corresponding to Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is an end elevation, with parts broken away, showing the stepped abutment and its cooperating cam.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a plaiting machine, according-to the invention in which the drums are driven by means other than those employed to drive the knives.

Figure'9 is an elevational view of .the cam adapted to remove the pawls from the ratchet Wheel which is driven during the forward stroke of the knife-carrier.

Figure is a section, on a larger scale, on

the line X-X of Figure 8.

When it isdesired to produce aset of plaits of-equal width, each plait which is formed,

a 0 b or a 0 b (Fig. 1) has usually a covered .or overlapped part b a or b o of the same width as the plait. Upon changingover from a set of plaits (1 0 b (Fig. 2) to anotherset of plaits a 0 b of greater width, the covered part Z) a ofthe last plait of the first set, in-

stead of being equal to this latter plait a 0 b has in the known machines the same width as the plaits (L101 6 of the following set, thus producing a disagreeable effect between the two successi-ve sets of plaits of diiferent widths.

The object of the invention is to provide a plaiting machine by which each plait will comprise a covered or overlapped part which is equal or proportional to the width of this plait, irrespectively of the changes of the width of the successive plaits. In this manner, by the use of the improved machine, a plait a b (Fig. 3) followed by a plait a 0 b of different width, will have a covered part b a which is equal or proportional to this plaitaob. 1

In the machine herein represented, the carria e or knife-carrier 1 carr in the lait forming device consisting of the upper knife 2 and the lower knife 3 is rotatable at its ends upon the axles 4: (Figs. 4 to 7) mounted in the sliding members 5 which are guided in the slots 6 of the machine frame 7. The axles a engage in, corresponding apertures of two pivoted links 10 disposed on the respective sides of the machine frame, thus giving the said knife-carrier 1 an alternate motion by which it approaches or recedes from the plait pressing device comprising the upper and lower drums 89. A slide 11 provided with a guiding slot 11 inwhich is engaged the link 10, is slidable along the said link 10, and

is provided with an axle 12 pivotally mounted in the arm 13, which turns about thestationary axle 14 under the action of a cam 15 which is mounted on the main shaft 16 of the machine. The axle 12 thus constitutes 'a pivot axle for the plvotation of the link 10 under I the action of the cam 17 which is also mounted on the shaft 16 and actuates the right-angled lever 18 pivoted on the stationary point 19 and connected by the link 20 to the link 10.

p The cams 15-17 may be formed upon a com mon disk or may constitute distinct elements.

The machine is regulated in such manner that when the knife carrier is at the end of its forward stroke, that is, in theposition nearest the drums 8-9, the slide 11 movable on the link 10 will be in the po ition in which the axis of pivotation 12 is sufficiently near the pivoting axis 4 of the knife-carrier on the link 10 to enable the said link, by pivoting on its axle 12, to impart an alternate motion to the knife-carrier 1 corresponding to the smallest plaits to be formed. The arrange ment may even be such that at the end of the forward stroke, the axes 12 and 1 coincide, and in this case, if it is supposed that the arm 13 is held stationay for a moment, the link 10 would be alone subjected to an alternate mo- .tion on the pivot axle 12, without imparting any motion to the knives.

However when the arm 13, which is driven against the cam 15 by a spring 21, lowers the slide 11 along the link 10, the pivoting axle V 12 of said link recedes from the axle 4 which under the action of the cam 17 will move to a distance depending upon the space between the axle l2 and the axle 4. As the shaft 16 continues to turn, it brings the arm 13 and the axle 12 into their initial position near the b axle 4 or opposite this axle, under the action 12 will be given by the cam 15 a reciprocating motion along the pivoting link 10.- The knife-carrier 1, under the action of the cam 17, willbe in the first place separated from the drums 8 and 9 according as the axle12 is removed'from the axle 4,and it then returns to its original position at a point near the drums, the axis 12 being then adjacent the axis 4 or coinciding with the latter.

Ifthe cam 15 acts alone upon the arm 13, the amplitude of oscillation of the arm 13 will be'always the same, and thus the amplitude of movement of the knife-carrier 1 will be invariable, hence affording plaits of the same width in all cases.

. To'vary the amplitude of the motion of the arm '13 and of the knife-carrier 1 in order to obtain plaits of difierent widths, the arm 13 carries an abutment which may make contact with an adjustable surface in order to limit the stroke of the said arm 13. The said abutment and adjustable surface may be given any suitable forms. In the example herein represented, the abutment consists of a series of steps 22, mounted on an extension ofthe arm 13 and movable in cooperation with a set of rods 23, variable'in number, mounted on a cam 24 which is rotatable on the axis 25. The said rods 23 may have different,lengt-hs, thus extending to a greater or less degree from thecam disk. According as the rod placed in the path of the stepped abutment has a greater or less length, the arm 13 will be stopped sooner or later'on its stroke, and hence the amplitude of movement of the pivot axle 12' will be more or less reduced, as well as the amplitudeof movement of the knife-carrier 1; the operator can thus regulate the width of the plaits by placing a rod 23 of suitable length on the path of the steps 22. The cam 24 may be rotated by hand,

along the links 10.

The intermittent rotary motion of the drums 8 and9 may be controlled by a mechanlsm having the same construction as the device controlling the knives. For this purpose, an axle 4 is mounted in a slide 5 movj able in'a slot 6' formed in an additional side plate 7"secured to the machine frame; said axle 4 is engaged in an aperture of a pivoting link 10. A slide 11 having a guide slot in which is engaged the link is movable along the said link 10 and carries an axle 12 rotatable in the arm 13 which pivots on the stationary axle 14 by the action of a cam 15 mounted on the main shaft 16.

The axle 12 serves as a pivot, about which is movable the link 10 under the action of the cam 17 which is also mounted on the shaft 16 and controls the bell-crank 18 pivotally mounted on the stationary axle 19 and connected by the link 20 to the link 10. The

arm 13, applied against the cam 15 by a spring 21, carries an abutment formed by the steps 22 and movable in cooperation with the rods 23 (whose numbercan be varied) which are mounted on the cam 24 rotatable on the axle 25. A rod 70 is pivoted at one end to the axle 4 and at the other end to the lever 71 which is pivoted to the stationary axle 72. A rod 7 3 is pivoted at one end to the lever 7 land at the other end to the pawlcarrier 7 4 which carries a pawl 7 5 engaging a ratchet wheel 76 keyed to the axis of the cylinder 9.

In the same manner as for the above-mentioned device controlling the knives, the cams 15, 1'?" and the steps 22 cooperate with the rods 23 in order to separate the axle 12 more or less from the axle 4, and hence the rods 70-? 3, the ratche wheel T 6 and also the drums 89 will be moved through an amplitude which is greater according as the arm 23 placed in the path of the steps 22 is shorter. it is possible to use a separate cam with rods 23 for each of the two devices controlling the knives and drums. However, a single cam for both devices can be employed,

9 as shown in Fig. 6, and herein the rod which determines the forward stroke of the knives will serve, due to a rotation of the shaft 25,

to determine the amount of rotation of the drums.

It is not essential to use identical devices to control the knives and the drums. According to the invention, a pivoting lever arm is provided whose variable length is determined by the amount of motion of the knife-carrier during the forward stroke of the knives, so that this lever arm will have a length depending upon the width of the plait which is formed. The said pivoting lever arm controls the rotation of the drums during the back stroke of the knives. This principle is carried out in the following manner in the example shown (Fig. 8). To the shaft of the lower drum 9 is keyed a ratchet wheel 31 which may be driven by one or more pawls 32 mounted on the pawl-carrier 33 which is loose on the shaft of the said drum 9. The said pawl carrier is given an alternate rotary motion by a rod 34 which is pivoted at one end 35 to said pawl-carrier and at its other end 36 to a lever 37 adapted to turn about a stationary axle 38. In the lower branch ofthe said lever 37 is rotatable an axle 42 by a cam 44 which is keyed to the shaft 16 and upon which is urged, by a spring 45, a roller 46 mounted on an arm which is pivoted to said arm 41. The lever 43 can be given difierentpositions around the shaft 16, drawing with it the axle 42, the arm 41 and the arm 47, but whatever be the position of the parts 4341-47 about the axle 42, the arm 41 will have the same movement of pivotation about the axle 42 under the action of the cam 44.

During its displacements, the lever 43 will slide the arm 41 in the guide 40, so that the axles 39 and 42 may occupy different relative positions, being thus more or less spaced apart. These axles may be in coincidence, and in this case the arm 41 will pivot about 42, without affecting the lever 37, but according as the axle 42 is separated from the axle 39, the lever 37 will be actuated by a lever arm 4239 of increasing length, in such manner that the lever 37 will move to a greater extend around the axle 38, so that the ratchet wheel 31 and the drums 8-9 will move to a greater extent by means of the rod and the said pawl-carrier 33. The part of the arm 41 comprised between the axles 39 and 42 thus forms the lever arm of variable length which determines the intermittent rotation of the said drums. The length of the said lever arm 3942 is determined by the amplitude of movement of the knife-carrier 1 during the forward motion of the knives, due to a set of parts connecting the slide 1 to the lever 43, and comprising a ratchet wheel 48 mounted loosely on the axis of tile drum 9, said wheel being given a rotation proportional to the forward stroke of the knives, this taking place during this forward stroke,

by means of a link 49 pivoted atone end to the knife-carrier 1 and at the other'end to a pawl-carrier 50 provided with the pawl 51 cooperating with the ratchet wheel 48. The said ratchet wheel 48, which is prevented from turning in the contrary direction during the back stroke of the knives, by a stop-pawl 58, carries (on a lug 52) a pin 53 engaging in a slot 54 of the second branch 55' of the bellcrank lever 43-55. A spring 56 tends to constantly turn the device consisting of the levers 435541, 47, in such manner that the lever 47 will be applied against the stop 57, and in this position, which corresponds to the end of the rear stroke of the knives, the axles 39 and 42 will be in coincidence.

During the forward stroke of the knives, the slide 1 turns the ratchet wheel 48 through an angle proportional to the length of this forward stroke of the knives by means of the link 49 and the pawl-carrier 50-51. The H ratched wheel 48 then turns the lever 43-55 about theshaft 16, and slides the arm'41 in the guide 40, while giving the lever arm 39-42 a length proportional to the forward stroke of the knives and hence. proportional to the width of the plait which is formed. During the back stroke of the knives, the

, pawl 51 simply slips upon the wheel 48 withof the plait formed during the forward stroke of the knives.

At the end of the back stroke, the cam 59,

mounted on the shaft 16, acts upon a link 60, thus turning a cam 61 which is rotatable on the shaft of the cylinder 9 and carries bosses 6263, which bosses raise, by means of rollers 6465, an'arm 66 which is pivoted at 67 to a pawl 58. The arm66 raises in turn the pawls 51 and58, which release the ratchet wheel 48 and thus permit the spring 56 to bring the levers 4355, 41, 47 against the stop 57 and also to bring the ratchet wheel 48 and the arm 41 to their initial position, so that the axles 39-42 are again in coincidence.

Obviously,the aforesaid constructions are susceptible of numerous modifications, and for instance theadjustable lever arm 39-42 may be interposed in any other suitable manner betweenrthe slide 1 and the lever 37, and

it might even consist of the lever 37 itself. On the other hand, the abutment 22 consisting of various steps 22 may be replaced by a simple arm in contact with the periphery of a suitable cam.

' Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a plaiting machine, two devices comprising a pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, means for pivoting said link about said pivot, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot, whereby said pivot may be, reciprocated towards and away, from said stud, means for reciprocating said pivot towards and away from said stud during a. complete oscillation of said link,

means interposed between said stud and one of said two devices, whereby said device is adapted to be driven by said link, and means for'actuating the other device duringa complete oscillation of said link.

2. In a plaiting machine, two devices comprising a pressing device with cylinders ro tatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, means for pivoting said link about said pivot, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby, said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, means for reciprocating said pivot to wards and away from said stud during a complete oscillation of said link, means adapted to vary the length of the reciprocating strokes of said pivot, means interposed between said stud and one of said two devices, whereby said device is adapted to be driven by said link, and means for actuating the other device during a complete oscillation of said link. I

3. In a plaiting machine, two devices comprising a pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and onwhich said link is adapted to be pivoted, means for pivoting said link about said pivot, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, means for reciprocating said pivot towards and away from said stud during a complete oscillaticnof said link, said pivot. and said stud being in line at one end of the stroke of said pivot, means interposed between said stud and one of said two devices, whereby said device is adapted to be driven by said link, and means for actuating the other device during a complete oscillation of said link.

4. In a plaiting machine, two devices comprising a plait pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, means for pivoting said link aboutsaid pivot, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby said pivot may bereciprocated towards and away from said stud, means for reciprocating said pivot towards and away from said stud during a complete oscillation of said link, a bearing member adapted to assume different positions, a stop piece operatively connected with said pivot and adapted to cooperate with said bearing member whereby thestroke of said pivot away from said stud is limited, means interposed between said stud and one of said devices, whereby said device is driven by said link, and means for actuating the other device said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, an arm operatively connected with said pivot, a driving shaft, a cam on said shaft on which said arm is adapted to bear, whereby said pivot is adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said stud. during a complete revolution of said shaft, means operated by said shaft for causing a complete oscilla tion of said link during a complete revolution of said shaft, a bearing member ed assume difi'erent positions, a stop piece carried on said arm and adapted to cooperate with said bearing member, whereby the stroke of said pivot away from said stud is limited, means interposed between said stud and one of said devices, whereby said device is oriven by said link, and means for actuating the other device during a complete revolution of said shaft.

6. In a plaiting machine, two devices comprising a plait pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, an arm operatively connected with said pivot, a driving shaft, a cam on said shaft on which said arm is adapted to bear, whereby said pivot is adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said stud during a complete revolution of said shaft, means operated by said shaft for causing a complete oscillation of said link during a complete revolution of said shaft, a bearing member adapted to assume different positions, means operated by said shaft for moving said bearing member from one of its positions to another, a stop piece carried on said arm and adapted to cooperate with said bearing member, whereby the stroke of said pivot away from said stud is limited, means interposed between said stud and one of said devices, whereby said device is driven by said link, and means for actuating the other device during a complete revolution of said shaft.

1. In a. plaiting machine, two devices comprising a plait pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, an arm operatii ely connected with said pivot, a driving shaft, a cam on said shaft on said stud is limited,'means interposed between said stud and one of said devices, whereby said device is driven by said link, and means for actuating the other device dur ing a complete revolution of said shaft.

8. In a plaiting machine, two devices -com prising a plait pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from' said cylinders, two links, for each link a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, two studs, each engaging one link, guiding means for each pivot whereby said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, an arm for each pivot operatively connected with said pivot, a driving shaft, means operated by said shaft for moving said arms to and fro, whereby said pivots are adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said studs during a complete revolution of said shaft, means operated by said shaft for causing a complete oscillation of said links during a complete revolution of said shaft, a bearing member adapted to assume different positions, astop piece carried on each" arm and adapted to cooperate with said bearing member, whereby the strokes of said pivots away from said studs arelimited, means operated by said shaft for moving said bearing memher from one of its positions to another, means interposed between one of said studs and said plait pressing device for actuating said pressing device through said corresponding link, and means interposed between the other stud and said plait forming device for actuating said plait forming device through said other link during a complete revolution of said shaft.

9. In a plaiting machine, two devices comprising a plait pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives adapted to be reciprocated towards and away from said cylinders, means for reciprocating said knives towards and away from said cylinders at variable distances from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to be pivoted, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, a one [amass 2 to be operated by said cam at the end 0 way transmitting means connected with'said knives and with said pivot for movlng sald pivot away from said stud during the for-o ward stroke of the knives towards the cylinders, means'for pivoting said link about said pivot during the backward stroke of the knives means interposed between said stud and sand pressing device, whereby said pressing device is actuated by said link in proportion with the length of the forward stroke of the knives, and yielding means adapted to urge said pivot towards said stud.

10. In a plaiting machine, two devices comprising a plait pressing device with cylinders rotatably mounted close near each other and a plait forming device with knives ada ted to be reciprocatedtowards and away rom said cylinders, means for reciprocating said knives towards and away from said cylinders atvariable distances, from said cylinders, a link, a pivot mounted on said link and on which said link is adapted to bepivoted, a stud engaging said link, guiding means for said pivot whereby said pivot may be reciprocated towards and away from said stud, a one way transmitting means connected with said knives and with said pivot for moving said pivot away from said stud during the forward stroke of the knives towards the cylinders, means for pivoting said link about said pivot during the backward stroke of the knives, means interposed between said stud and said pressing device, whereby said pressing device is actuated by'said link in proportion withthe length of the forward stroke of the knives, a rotatable cam,means adafted the backward stroke of the knives and to release said one way transmitting means, and yield ing meansadapted to urge said pivot towards said stud and said one way transmitting means in its initial position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

' GEORGES EZBELENT.

ROGER EZBELENT. 

